CHICO — A large marijuana growing operation that included more than 2,000 plants was discovered Thursday by Butte County Sheriff's Office detectives.

The Special Enforcement Unit served a search warrant to a property at 10175 Alberton Ave., near Chico River Road, according to the BCSO. Detectives allegedly located several commercial-size greenhouses that were reportedly being used to cultivate marijuana "under the guise of Proposition 215."

The property is allegedly being leased by Christopher Byers, 44, who was not on the scene during the search, according to a BCSO press release.

The search reportedly revealed 1,467 marijuana plants, which were eradicated from the greenhouses, and approximately 1,000 additional marijuana plants that had already been harvested on the property, according to the BCSO.

Additionally, detectives allegedly located more than 11 pounds of processed marijuana, 3 ounces of hashish, 0.8 ounces of psilocybin hallucinogenic mushrooms, and three firearms, according to the BCSO. Evidence of sales of marijuana in violation of Proposition 215 was allegedly located on the property.

The search was conducted with assistance from the Butte County Interagency Narcotics Task Force.

"Both agencies were amazed at the size of the commercial greenhouses and elaborate marijuana growing operation," according to the press release.

Each greenhouse was approximately 200-by-80 feet and equipped with six four-foot ventilation fans and an 80-foot cooling system, according to the BCSO.

During the investigation, detectives reportedly learned that the property was built as a commercial tomato plant farm that was then allegedly converted into a large-scale marijuana growing operation.

According to the BCSO, the investigation is ongoing due to the complexity and number of people involved.